Merry-go-round - How do you do it ?

Jump on our merry go round and join a group of artists/crafts-women from around the world as they link hands and tell you a little bit about their lives in craft.

Do look up the answers from the rest of this band of crafters (links to your left). If they haven't posted yet, remember we all live in different time zones and check again later...

This month's question:

Explain how you do your craft

Hmmm. Good question that.

Very much in keeping with last month's question to me, right now. I am actually spending a lot more time working on acquiring new skills - and exploring the internet for tools and supplies - than getting anything really "showable" done. I've ordered my tumbler. Yay! And just gotten a myriad new design stamps etc. Also bracing myself to start on soldering stuff - not to worry, I do have the goggles.

So.

Normally, what I do is start from a piece (some chain, a charm, a stone, a pearl, a cab...) and work around it. Like recently, I wanted to make a special something for my best friend's special birthday (can't say which, obviously). Months ago, i had come across this amethist focal piece and bought it right away because she likes amethist and amethist likes her. As I did not want to spoil it. I spent the next few months with this focal on a back-burner. I knew it would be a necklace, but that still left quite a few possibilities.

Eventually, of course, even though I had gotten the focal well in advance, I was late with my present. But once I had the amethist on my (drawing-room/loft/study/workshop) table with a mess of silver findings, the necklace came together as of its own volition. I used what I had that fit best... and three days later she was wearing it to work.
Phew.

Right now, I'm working on a bracelet for a special niece with a special birthday coming up.

And the (very bad - sorry about that!) photos shows the mess that is pretending to be leading towards a beautiful piece. Only, I still have a few month. So, I cannot make up my mind yet... So I'm sort of working on making her bracelet and another one that I'll put up for sale.

Lucky there's no dinner party coming up any time soon...

Especially as I have also taken out some materials to create a couple of Muscha glass pendants...

Oh and I forget - the last photo shows my bits and bobs (formerly and elegant 'thirties bottle bar table) side table, with a piece of bead-weaving waiting for new supplies, and exotic finds that I have high hopes about (like my small stash of vintage "mascaron" fèves/cabs)...

It HAS taken over my life.